Lack of quarantine checks raises concern for import of exotic weeds &
diseases
Posted: Sep 05, 2005 at 0102 hrs IST
Updated: Sep 05, 2005 at 0102 hrs IST
Food imports so far have not been against a price. The country paid a
heavy price for imports of wheat under PL-480 from US in the pre-Green
Revolution days, when the Parthenium weed found its way into India
with the imports.
Even today, due to lack of proper quarantine and sanitary and
phytosanitary checks at the points of entry exotic weeds and plant
diseases are entering the country through imports of food and agri
products.
The exotic Parthenium weeds were first detected in 1956 in Pune in
Maharashtra. Since its first occurrence, this weed has spread to all
parts of the country, including the remote parts like northeast India,
Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep group of islands.
Experts say the food imports was done under compulsions of scarcity.
It was then a necessity. But what we lacked was proper quarantine
checks at the points of entry. Recently the government has formulated
a Plant Quarantine Order for imports.
But proper mechanism is yet to be put in place for its effective
implementation.
The director of the Jabalpur-based National Research Centre for Weed
Science (NRCWS), Dr NT Yaduraju, says that, apart from the deadly
Parthenium, many other exotic weeds have entered the country like
Mile-a-Minute and Chormolinia.
The Parthenium weed is otherwise called Gajar Ghas, literally meaning
leaves of carrot. It is also called ‘Congress weed’, reminding of its
imports under the then Congress rule. Similarly, the Chormolina weed
first detected in Kerala is called ‘Communist weed’.
The long-drawn battle against Parthenium is still on, says Dr
Yadaraju. “We have now found an effective weapon to fight Parthenium.
We have about two lakh imported Mexican beetle in the last three
years. This insect eats up the leaves of Parthenium and does not harm
any other crop. We are ‘multiplying this insect and distributing
through our 22 centres spread across the country. We have also
distributed to about 150 out of 400 krishi vigyan kendra (KVKs).”
Apart from sucking useful nutrient from the crop fields, Parthenium is
known to cause diseases like asthma, allergy and skin disorders.
Airborne pollen may cause severe allergic rhinitis in some
individuals. While the farmer takes care in removing Parthenium from
fields through manual means and sprays, the concern remains about its
presence in non-crop lands, say Dr Yaduraju.
He says that biological control method through Mexican Beetle
(Zygogramma bicolorata) is likely to be slow. Hence this programme
needs to be integrated with plantation of suitable competitative
plants available locally like Cassia tora (Chakada), C serecia and
marigold. These plants would suppress Parthenium spread, he says. Mr
Yaduraju says that NRCWS has also found out some useful use of Parthenium.
The stems of this plant are being used to prepared wooden laminates.
Both leaves and stem are used for preparation of green manure mixing
it with cowdung. He also says that Parthenium is being used as a
medicinal plant in different parts of the globe. Every year NRCWS
launches a Parthenium Awareness week beginning August 26 to September 1.
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Lack-of-quarantine-checks-raises-concern-fo\
r-import-of-exotic-weeds-&-diseases/75357/0
Hypoglycemic effect of aqueous extract of Parthenium hysterophorus L.
in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats
Vijay S Patel, V Chitra, P Lakshmi Prasanna, V Krishnaraju
Department of Pharmacology, SRM College of Pharmacy,
Kattankulathur-603203, Kanchipuram district, TN, India
Objectives: To study the effects of Parthenium hysterophorus L. flower
on serum glucose level in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats.
Materials and Methods: Albino rats were divided into six groups of six
animals each, three groups of normal animals receiving different
treatments consisting of vehicle, aqueous extract of Parthenium
hysterophorus L. flower (100 mg/kg) and the standard antidiabetic
drug, glibenclamide (0.5 mg/kg). The same treatment was given to the
other three groups comprising alloxan induced diabetic animals.
Fasting blood glucose level was estimated using the glucose oxidase
method in normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats, before and 2 h
after the administration of drugs.
Results: Parthenium hysterophorus L. showed significant reduction in
blood glucose level in the diabetic (P <0.01) rats. However, the
reduction in blood glucose level with aqueous extract was less than
with the standard drug glibenclamide. The extract showed less
hypoglycemic effect in fasted normal rats, (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The study reveals that the active fraction of Parthenium
hysterophorus L. flower extract is very promising for developing
standardized phytomedicine for diabetes mellitus.
http://www.ijp-online.com/article.asp?issn=0253-7613;year=2008;volume=40;issue=4\
;spage=183;epage=185;aulast=Patel
Sponsor a child, or a noxious weed
Monday, 29 September 2008
Taxpayers will have the option to redirect 1% of their income tax to a
scheme to reduce child poverty and sponsor talented youngsters, the
government announced last week. Under an existing scheme, Hungarians
can opt to have one percent of their income tax donated to a charity
of their choice, and a further one percent to a church or religious
organisation. Among other possible targets of the scheme mentioned by
a government spokesman was an initiative to eradicate the allergenic
giant ragweed that is rampant in Hungary.
http://www.budapesttimes.hu/content/view/9316/219/
Transforming an obnoxious weed into gold!
GAJAR GHAS, also called parthenium hysterophorus, is one of the ten
worst weeds in the world. It is harmful to all the living beings; it
has nearly destroyed all the useful crops and plants in the world.
Research has shown that it destroys everything that grows near it,
causes various skin diseases in human beings and if consumed, causes
various diseases in cattle too. Earlier, scientists suggested burning
down this plant as soon as it is uprooted since its pollen grains,
carried by the wind, may settle on the various pores of animals and
human beings and cause skin disorders in them.
But here in Khajuria Kala, a village in Ashoknagar district (a
newly-created district of Madhya Pradesh) which houses one of the
biggest Mandis in Madhya Pradesh, this plant is used for preparing
fertilisers, for nearly three years. At Khajuria Kala, farming is
undertaken without using any chemical fertilisers; only organic
fertilisers are used which have helped in improving the quality of the
crop. Abhay Vasudeo Kher, a farmer, thought of using Gajar Ghas as a
fertiliser. The idea struck him because the plant proliferated in the
vicinity of his farm and it served no purpose anyway. He applied his
mind to the task and eventually was able to convert it into organic
manure. He was pleased to learn that none before him had attempted to
use the deadly plant as manure.
This plant contains various acids like spenolic acid, vanalic acid,
p-anisic acid, clorogenic acid, caffeic acid and para hydroxy benzoic
acid. Some of these acids are good antioxidants and yet some are used
as intermediates in the manufacture of chemical fertilisers. It also
contains a large proportion of chlorophyll which can be used in the
preparation of fertilisers by decomposing it. It has always been a
pleasure for him to revolutionise agricultural practices and devise
new ways to promote agriculture in India.
Kher says, "Today our lands are been destroyed by using these chemical
fertilisers, but our farmers do not realise that by using the said
fertilisers, we are not only harming our land, but also affecting the
quality of the produce. But our farmers seem to be unaware of this
problem and our government must stress that chemical fertilisers must
be used on a limited scale; gradually, they must persuade the farmers
to switch over to organic farming. Farmers must be enlightened about
all these things, as they are the backbone of the nation."
http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=142046
Thanks Prof. Angiras for valuable contribution. Please resize the
pictures up to 200k (each) so that I can upload it for group members.
regards
Pankaj Oudhia
--- In IPRNG@..., "Pankaj Oudhia" <pankajoudhia@...> wrote:
>
> message by Prof. Angiras.
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: angiras nityanand <angirasn@...>
> Date: Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 4:57 PM
> Subject: Parthenium awareness week
> To: Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@...>
>
>
> Dear Dr. Pankaj,
> How are you ? Please find enclosed herewith the report on Parthenium
> awareness week organised at six different placesinvolving
Schools,Coleges
> and the farmers of the area from 6-12 September,2008.
>
> With best wishes
>
> Prof. N.N.Angiras
> Senior Agronomist Weed Science cum P.I AICRP Weed Control
>
>
> ------------------------------
> Get an email ID as yourname@... or yourname@... Click
>
here.<http://in.rd.yahoo.com/tagline_dbid_4/*http://in.promos.yahoo.com/address>
>
How are you ? Please find enclosed herewith the report on Parthenium awareness week organised at six different placesinvolving Schools,Coleges and the farmers of the area from 6-12 September,2008.
With best wishes
Prof. N.N.Angiras
Senior Agronomist Weed Science cum P.I AICRP Weed Control
Just came across an innovative site to help Bihar Flood victims. Shows how one can contribute without actually spending anything or being physically present by spending just 60 seconds of
one's time. Just have to answer simple questions, and sponsors will pay to the NGO on your behalf. Kindly spread the word.
Mexican insect destroys weed
Snehamoy Chakraborty
SRINIKETAN, Sept. 19: An experiment on weed control conducted by the
All India Coordinated Research Programme (AICRP) of Visva-Bharati's
Pally Sikhsha Bhavana led by Dr B. Duary has proven that an insect
called the Mexican Beetle can destroy the poisonous Parthenium weed.
The experiment was conducted in the surrounding areas of Santiniketan
where the Parthenium weed grows. The insect was first brought from
Mexico in 1984. In 2002, the AICRP brought the insect from Bangalore
to apply those on Parthenium weeds. After several experiments this
year, the AICRP (weed control) achieved success. The Parthenium weeds
have been destroyed in all those places in Santiniketan where the
insects were released.
According to Dr B. Duary, the principal investigator of AICRP (weed
control) of Visva-Bharati, the insect *Mexican Beetle* is a type of
insect which can selectively feed on Parthenium without causing any
harm to the surrounding environment.
“The insect is a bio-control agent. We conducted an experiment by
releasing one insect in a Parthenium bush, which was completely
destroyed by the insects. This is our grand success,” said Dr Duary,
the principal investigator, AICRP, Visva-Bharati.
In order to create awareness among the common people regarding
Parthenium, its nature, harmful effects and an integrated approach
towards its eradication, a ‘Parthenium Awareness Week’ was announced
at a national level from 6 to 12 September this year. AICRP (weed
control), Institute of Agriculture Visva-Bharati observed the week by
organising various awareness programmes, involving the Panchayat,
Municipality, Club, Eco-club, Railway Department, NGOs, Schools,
Colleges and the teaching and non-teaching staffs of Visva-Bharati.
Regarding the harmfulness of Parthenium weed, Dr Duary said: “In
general Parthenium is a poisonous, pernicious, problematic, allergic
and aggressive weed that poses a serious threat to bio-diversity,
human beings and livestock. It is one of the greatest sources of
dermatitis, asthma, and nasal-dermal or nasal-bronchial type of
diseases. The young plants contain hair, which can cause dermatitis
among people as well as hair-fall and skin ulcer among animals through
direct contact. According to us, the Parthenium poses a threat to all
of us.”
However, the experiment with the insect Mexican Beetle is beneficial
for us as it feeds on Parthenium weed and hence helps in destroying
it. The Department of Agriculture is now hopeful, as the experiment
has been completed successfully.
However, apart from the insect-therapy, there are several other ways
to destroy the poisonous Parthenium weed by burning it or by nipping
it from the root when it is growing.
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=23&theme=&usrsess=1&id=223343
'Bio-terrorism caused by weeds should be checked'
Coimbatore (PTI): With the monetary loss caused by weeds estimated to
be Rs. 3,000 crores in India, care should be taken that invasive weeds
did not gain entry into the country, as happened in the case of two
noxious weeds-- presopis and parthenium--Tamil Nadu Agricultural
Univesity Vice Chancellor, Dr C Ramasamy has said.
The world food loss due to weeds, considered to be agents of
bio-terrorism, was alarming and was estimated to be around 287 million
tonnes (MT), accounting for 11.5 per cent of total food production,
Ramasamy said, while inaugurating a five-day training on National
Invasive Weed Surveillance (NIWS), here, on Thursday.
The crop yield loss in cereals in India was estimated at 33 mt, pulses
20 mt, oilseeds 26 mt and fibre and commercial crop accounted for
eight mt, he said.
Stating that India imported large quantity of wheat, which was
supplied to the consumers, mostly residing in the rural areas, through
PDS, Ramasamy said in view of this, NIWS project was launched with a
budget outlay of Rs. 666.45 lakhs for a two year period (2008-10) to
detect and check exotic weeds that gained entry through imported wheat.
The project aimed at detecting the establishment of the regulated
weeds and to formulate eradication programmes to avoid future spread,
he said.
The training is organised at the University in association with
National Research Centre for Weed Science, Jabalpur and around 25
participants comprising Areca coordinators and scientists from
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are participating.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/015200809192040.htm
Rapid country-wide spread of parthenium weed causes concern
Rourkela (Orissa), Sept 16 (PTI) The rapid spread of the highly
allergic and poisonous parthenium weed all over the country has
alarmed scientists who described it as a major emerging threat to
environment and biodiversity.
The pollen grains of Parthenium Hysterophorus, or carrot grass in
common parlance, cause several diseases like eczema, asthma and
dermatitis, a senior scientist of the Orissa University of Agriculture
and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra, told PTI.
"It is a poisonous, allergic and aggressive weed whose pollens float
in air and cause eczema, asthma, dermatitis, hay fever (kalazar) etc
in human beings," Mishra said.
The weed was first sighted in Pune in 1956. It had travelled from the
USA with wheat seeds and gradually spread to every corner of the country.
Scientists associated with the All India Co-ordinated Research
Programme said the rapid growth of the weed had become a threat to the
environment and biodiversity. It adversely affects the germination and
growth of several crops.
Mishra said the pollens of the weed shed flowers of vegetables
(tomato, chilli, brinjal) and inactivate nitrogen fixing bacteria in
pulses due to secretion of a chemical substance (sesquiterpene lactones).
Not only human beings, the weed also causes dermatitis in animals like
cows and goats. When they eat the weed, their milk becomes bitter and
drinking it for some length of time may cause death. PTI
http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/96F615D7054E8C7D652574C60023D2DF?Open\
Document
Asthma - A Chronic Respiratory Disease
G. K. Pakavath
ASTHMA is now so common that not only have you heard of it, you
probably also know people who have it. Nepal alone has about two
million asthmatics. The numbers are increasing so alarmingly that by
2020, Nepal is likely to become the asthmatic capital of the world in
all probability.
Causes
Nobody knows for sure what causes asthma. One predisposing factor is:
family history. With one asthmatic parent the child is at risk. With
both asthmatic parents, that risk rises to 75 per cent. The second
factor is due to eczema and/or allergic rhinitis. And the third factor
is due to pre-natal or early exposure to cigarette smoke.
The various triggers that can set asthma off include dust, dust mites,
pollen, tobacco, allergies and viral infections like flu, animal hair,
emotional stress, sudden weather changes and vigorous exercise.
Parthenium, or Congress Grass, is a major cause of asthma especially
in cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Asthma causes approximately 5,000 deaths a year. About 60 per cent of
asthma deaths are preventable. Incidence of immune system diseases
like asthma has increased by over 200 per cent in the last five years.
Asthma affects one in six children and one in 15 adults. Asthma
accounts for 13 million school days missed every year. Asthma accounts
for around 24.5 million work days missed a year.
These are some guidelines: Never neglect a common cold or any
infection of the respiratory system. Try yoga or meditation to relax
mentally and physically. Stay positive. Do not self-medicate. Stay
away from tobacco smoke, paint, animal fur, dust, pollen and other
triggers. Ensure that there is adequate ventilation in your room or
work place. Avoid carpeting, heavy drapes and other dust collectors in
your home.
Asthmatics must avoid food with artificial colouring and monosodium
glutamate (MSG), aerated drinks and canned food, chilled drinks and
all animal protein, including dairy. MSG is an active ingredient in
chow chow, the popular ready to eat food in the country. Perhaps, that
could be the reason for the higher growth-rate of asthmatic patients.
Yoghurt is the highest mucous forming agent. Consumption of plenty of
vegetables and fruits are highly desirable.
Exercises like deep breathing to increase lung capacity, blowing
balloons, aerobics and swimming are good asthmatics to mitigate the
severity of the disease.
Asthma, a chronic respiratory impairment, is much more severe in
patients who are also obese, compared to those who are not overweight.
According to one of the largest surveys ever done in the US that also
holds true for other countries, researchers have found that obese
patients were 66 per cent more likely to report continuous symptoms,
36 per cent more likely to miss working days and 52 per cent more
likely to be classified as having either moderate or severe persistent
asthma. The study conducted on 3,059 adults with asthma was based on
their body mass index (BMI).
In the study, researchers adjusted for certain variables, including
gender, race, age, smoking status, education level, income employment
status, family history of asthma and residence in a metropolitan area,
to ensure these variables were not playing a role in the results. Even
after taking these variables into account, the association between
obesity and asthma severity still held. The link between asthma and
obesity was more prominent in women. Over 70 per cent of the study
subjects were women.
Compared with non-overweight asthma patients, obese patients were more
likely to report having continuous symptoms, have more doctor visits,
miss more days of work, use more inhaler medications and use inhaled
steroids to control asthma. The obesity asthma connection affects
women even more severely. This could be due to an association between
the hormone Leptin, which is produced by fat cells and plays a role in
body weight regulation and inflammation of airways seen in asthma.
Obesity may also impact the lungs in other ways.
Fast food effect
Obesity causes respiratory impairment as excessive fat on our exterior
presses on our lung, causing physical reduction in the capacity for
the lung to expand. People who are obese also tend to eat fast food
that has preservatives which have allergenic effect on asthma.
There might have been a number of studies on obesity and asthma
prevalence, but until now there have been little data on obesity and
asthma severity. Obesity by itself also results in reduction of chest
wall compliance, leading to reduced respiratory reserve.
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/detail.php?article_id=6796&cat_id=7
Poison weed spells health havoc
SANTOSH K. KIRO
Ranchi, Sept. 12: The green and poisonous grass on the other side of
the state is fast spreading to the capital. But the state health
department and municipal corporation are yet to sniff trouble.
Parthenium hysterophorus, found in abundance in the outskirts of the
city, has spread its roots in the city.
Experts suggest that if the poisonous grass is not uprooted, it could
lead to an outbreak of various diseases, including asthma, trinities
sinusitis, dermatitis, eczema and irritation to the eyes.
Earlier, the grass was only found in the Dhurwa and Nagri areas.
“The poisonous grass is fast spreading and if not controlled it could
cause havoc,” said Nitish Priyardarshi, an environmentalist and
geologist, who is mapping the grass in different parts of the city.
It is believed that the Heavy Engineering Corporation township, Steel
Authority of India Limited, Mecon and Harmu Colony are the most
vulnerable areas as the weed is found in plenty at these places.
Ironically, the weed has also surrounded the office of the Jharkhand
State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) in Dhurwa.
The grass, said Priyadarshi, has already been declared poisonous in
the US and Australia. Though discovered in tropical America, it was
also spotted in Bangalore around 10 years ago.
Here, it was also called “Congress grass” because the shape of the
flower looked similar to the Congress Bhavan in New Delhi.
Parthenium weed is creamy white in colour with multiple stems. It has
small (1-2mm long), black seeds with white scales.
They are difficult to spot and could enter the human system through
the nose if a person comes in close contact with the plant. The weed’s
pollen could cause asthma, too. A single plant, according to
Priyadarshi, could produce 10,000-15,000 viable seeds.
The grass has high germinates throughout the year and a high survival
rate. It can also adapt to any climatic condition. The health
department, the JSPCB and the Ranchi Municipal Corporation are yet to
wake up to the problem.
The only way to control the spread of poisonous weed is to uproot it.
However, Priyadarshi said, workers should be very careful. “If one
cuts the grass, it spreads all the more. It has to be uprooted
carefully,” he warned.
Top
Weeds May Be Divided Into
They are the annual plants botanically called Parthenium hysterophorus
and popularly known as Congress Grass or Carrot Weed.
It belongs to the botanical family, Asteracae.
These plants are very difficult to eradicate.
It appears that Parthenium is not native to India, but it came with
the imported wheat as a mixture, when the US sent wheat to India under
PL 480 (Public Law 480 passed in 1954 to give food grains to
developing countries) in 1956.
However this concept was contradicted by some as not the real story
because Parthenium was present in India even in 1951 itself.
For full article please visit at
http://dicot.familygenetictree.com/2008/09/weeds-may-be-divided-into-6/
Women Destroy Parthenium
Women of Self Help Groups supported by Social Welfare Institute in
Patiram area destroyed hundreds of thousands of Parthenium plants that
had grown wild along the State Highway that runs through their
villages. Twenty eight women and two staff of Social Welfare Institute
dressed in masks and gloves given as gift by the Issaqua family of
Washington State, (brought by our own Andrea Smith during her last
visit to Raiganj), spent the entire 07 September, 2008, a Sunday
--from dawn to dusk--in cutting down, gathering and then destroying
the Parthenium plants with boiling hot water. The team destroyed the
weed for a distance of two-and-a-half kilometers on either side of the
road. The parthenium, if comes in contact, creates respiratory
malfunctioning in humans and cattle. The event was covered by many
local print and electronic media. Congrats to the team of women and to
Mr. Jayanta Das and Fr. Herman Kindo, who coordinated and motivated
the women.
http://puthu.blogspot.com/2008/09/women-destroy-parthenium.html
It is to inform you that National Research Centre for Weed Science (NRCWS) siuated at Jabalpur is organisnsg Parthenium Awareness Week with effect from 6 to 12 September 2008 involving all the centres of All India Coordinating Research Programme on Weed Control (AICRPWC), All the ICAR Institutes, SAUs and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, School children municipalities and many NGOs thoughout the country. Dr. Jay G, Varshney, Director, NRCWS and Programme Coordiantr of AICRP and National Invasive Weeds Surveillance (NIWS), Govt. of India has appealed all the heads of above organisations to observe the week as they deem fit.
To facilitate the event, NRCWS has developed and sent large posters in hindi and english, many extension folders on various aspects of parthenium managment to the above organisations with the appeal to make some activities like demonstrations, exhibitions, film showing, rallies, uprooting of parthenium etc in thier areas.
Inaugual programme of Parthenium Awareness Week was jointy organised by National Research Centre for Weed Science and University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore on 6 September 2008. Shri S. Suresh Kumar, Hon'ble Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs & Urban Development, Gov. of Karnataka inagurated the Programme.At this occasion, Shi Suresh Kumar appreciated the organizers to organise this sort of activity which is the need of hours. He offered full support of Karnataka government to fighty agaisnt this public casue. Dr. Varsheny briefed the losses caused by parthenium in terms of productivity, health and environment and applead the people of India to join hand to fight agsisnt this nation;s menace. Dr. Mahadevappa, a renowned scientist and former vice chancellor, UAS Dharwad emphasided the need to use botanical bioagent against parthenium. He urged the gathering to give his full support for this acttivity. Dr. P.G. Chengappa, Vice Chancellor, UAS, Bangalore presided the function. Dr. TV Ramachandra Prasad, PI, AICRPWC and Naional Invasive Weeds Surveillance Programme gave the votye of thanks.
May I also request my IPRNG members to give wide publicity to Parthenium Awareness Week and organise sosme activites at their level involving neighbours, community, school children, NGOs etc. municipalities, to fight agsisnt this national problem.
Members may visit our website nrcws.org to find more information.
With regards
Sushilkumar
Sr. Scientist
National Research Centre for Weed Science
Adhartal, Jabalpur
Sushilkumar
Senour Scientist
NRC For Weed Science
Maharajpur Adhartal Jabalpur
M.P. India
Mobile No. 91-9425186747
Tel: 91-761 2353352
You may send it to The editor," Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences" U A S Hebal, Bangalore 560 040. I think they ask the authors to become members by paying some moderate fee.
The other one Th e editor, Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences, U A S, Krishinagar, Dharwad, 580 005. Her also the author has to enrole as member. I can see they are published quickly.
Regs,
M mahadevappa,
Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@...> wrote:
Sir, We have generated some data on composting and use of Parthenium compost in agrculture that we want to publish.We will appriciate you to know few suitable journals at your earliest possible. Thanks.
-- Dr.B. R. Maurya Reader Deptt of Soil Science and Agril. Chemistry, Institute of Agril Sciences, B H U , VARANASI-221005 brmauryaias@gmail.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. M. Mahadevappa
Sir,
We have generated some data on composting and use of Parthenium
compost in agrculture that we want to publish.We will appriciate you
to know few suitable journals at your earliest possible.
Thanks.
--
Dr.B. R. Maurya
Reader
Deptt of Soil Science and Agril. Chemistry,
Institute of Agril Sciences,
B H U , VARANASI-221005
brmauryaias@...
Here is detailed response I posted to Archita as comment but she
quoted only one line.
Pankaj Oudhia
------------
Indian farmers as well as researchers are conducting research on making
compost from Parthenium and they got much success. Researchers have
published
their findings through research journals but farmer's works are still
unpublished. I am not aware about the exact method through which Dr.
Kohli and
his team members are preparing compost.
In general Parthenium growing in different conditions possess different
nutritional values. This is the reason before use of compost there is
need to
analyze every batch before sending it to market.
Instead of using Parthenium alone as traditional practice farmers are
using
mixed population of Parthenium and other weeds. Collection of
Parthenium for
preparation of compost is another problem. As it is allergy causing weed,
manual uprooting is avoided. For composting, uprooted Parthenium will be
required in bulk. We are not having equipments to collect Parthenium
plants in
bulk from wasteland. From this prospective, this research by Dr. Kohli
seems
having much of academic importance than ground level utility. But it
is good
to see that researchers are taking interest on Parthenium utility.
You can also see this paper on retention of allergic potential of
Parthenium
following composting.
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/117986650/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
Here is link for work by other researchers on this aspect.
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=parthenium%20vermicompost&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-\
8&sa=N&tab=ws
I would also like to comment on use of Hair. If you search the
literatures you
will find that rural natives especially farmers in India have tried this
method successfully and unfortunately their contributions have yet not
been
documented. Here is link to research article related to uses of human
hair by
natives of Indian state Chhattisgarh.
http://www.botanical.com/site/column_poudhia/257_bal.html
You can contact Prof. Anil Gupta for innovators of Gujrat who have
tired it
successfully. I have read it in Srishti magazine many years back.
Pankaj Oudhia
Convenor, International Parthenium Research News Group [IPRNG]
http://www.IPRNG.org
--- In IPRNG@..., Vinod Kumar Bhatt <vinodkbhatt@...> wrote:
>
> Thankyou very much for sharing this info.
>
> We'll also try this at our farm, lets see if it works well! We'll
definitely promote this technique in future.
>
> regards,
>
> Vinod Bhatt
> Navdnnya
>
>
>
> To: IPRNG@...: pankajoudhia@...: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 22:36:18
+0000Subject: [IPRNG] FW: No hair-raising experience this
>
>
>
>
> No hair-raising experience thisARCHITA BHATTAGURUCourtesy
earthworms, hair, weed easily converted to manurein 2003, the
government ordered the closure of several hair processingunits, which
made wigs, in Karnataka because of pollution. Burning ofhair resulted
in toxic elements, which caused allergies. The problemwith human hair
is it takes hundreds of years to decompose (see ‘Indistress’, Down To
Earth, July 15, 2003). In 2004, researchers inPunjab found a method to
convert the seemingly indecomposable hairinto organic manure with the
help of earthworms. The process is calledvermitechnology. Now, four
years later, the researchers have receiveda patent for the process in
India.“It was said that hair does not decompose. I was not convinced.
Itried out various methods and zeroed in on vermitechnology in
2004,”said R K Kohli of the Centre for Environment at Punjab
University.Explains Kohli, who carried out the study with other
researchers: haircontains keratin, a fibrous structural protein that
is hard andinsoluble in most substances. Keratin makes it difficult
for hair todecompose easily. He says that an enzyme in the gut of the
earthwormbreaks down keratin. While working on right conditions
forvermitechnology, the researchers found that it worked best
withoutusing any chemicals or diluting it.The technology is a
multi-layered process where decomposable mattersuch as wheat husk,
bamboo leaves and sawdust forms the base. Amixture containing cow dung
and hair is placed on the base. This istopped with more cow dung. A
dough is made out of this mixture andkept in shade at temperatures
varying from 21-31°C. Earthworms arereleased into it and left for two
months to produce the compost.Though this is the first instance of
documentation of this technology,experts working on traditional
knowledge in agriculture say farmers insome parts of India do convert
hair into organic manure. “Farmers inIndia have tried this method
successfully but their contributions haveyet not been documented,”
said Pankaj Oudhia, convenor, InternationalParthenium Research News
Group, a group of researchers who discussways and means to manage the
weed parthenium.Kohli has plans. “I have requested barbers to store
hair. It could becollected at intervals and used for the production of
manure insteadof disposing it,” he said. Also, perhaps the hair
processing unitscould make use of this technology to avoid
pollution.Having taken care of the hair issue, the researchers decided
to tryout the same technology on parthenium, the problem weed. It
producesabout 10,000 seeds per plant, which propagate fast. It
causesdermatitis and allergies. Using a method similar to that
ofdecomposing hair, the researchers found that parthenium
degradedcompletely in 40 days. A problem that arose during the process
was toterminate the extremely high seed potential of
parthenium.“Vermitechnology could not decompose the seeds. We let the
seedsgerminate and kept the manure with the germinated seeds in a dark
roomfor about 15 days. This wilted off the seedlings and terminated
theseed sprout potential of the plants,” said Kohli. He claims that
theirexperiments showed that parthenium vermicompost showed greater
proteincontent and larger shoot length than normal vermicompost.
Experts,however, say commercializing the process will be difficult
becausethere will be toxic reactions while collecting the parthenium
in bulk.Such issues can be taken care of by using masks and gloves,
says Kohli.
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20080831&filename=sci&sec_id=\
12&sid=5
>
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Want to explore the world? Visit MSN Travel for the best deals.
> http://in.msn.com/coxandkings
>
We'll also try this at our farm, lets see if it works well! We'll definitely promote this technique in future.
regards,
Vinod Bhatt
Navdnnya
To: IPRNG@... From: pankajoudhia@... Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 22:36:18 +0000 Subject: [IPRNG] FW: No hair-raising experience this
No hair-raising experience this ARCHITA BHATTA
GURU
Courtesy earthworms, hair, weed easily converted to manure
in 2003, the government ordered the closure of several hair processing units, which made wigs, in Karnataka because of pollution. Burning of hair resulted in toxic elements, which caused allergies. The problem with human hair is it takes hundreds of years to decompose (see ‘In distress’, Down To Earth, July 15, 2003). In 2004, researchers in Punjab found a method to convert the seemingly indecomposable hair into organic manure with the help of earthworms. The process is called vermitechnology. Now, four years later, the researchers have received a patent for the process in India.
“It was said that hair does not decompose. I was not convinced. I tried out various methods and zeroed in on vermitechnology in 2004,” said R K Kohli of the Centre for Environment at Punjab University. Explains Kohli, who carried out the study with other researchers: hair contains keratin, a fibrous structural protein that is hard and insoluble in most substances. Keratin makes it difficult for hair to decompose easily. He says that an enzyme in the gut of the earthworm breaks down keratin. While working on right conditions for vermitechnology, the researchers found that it worked best without using any chemicals or diluting it.
The technology is a multi-layered process where decomposable matter such as wheat husk, bamboo leaves and sawdust forms the base. A mixture containing cow dung and hair is placed on the base. This is topped with more cow dung. A dough is made out of this mixture and kept in shade at temperatures varying from 21-31°C. Earthworms are released into it and left for two months to produce the compost. Though this is the first instance of documentation of this technology, experts working on traditional knowledge in agriculture say farmers in some parts of India do convert hair into organic manure. “Farmers in India have tried this method successfully but their contributions have yet not been documented,” said Pankaj Oudhia, convenor, International Parthenium Research News Group, a group of researchers who discuss ways and means to manage the weed parthenium.
Kohli has plans. “I have requested barbers to store hair. It could be collected at intervals and used for the production of manure instead of disposing it,” he said. Also, perhaps the hair processing units could make use of this technology to avoid pollution.
Having taken care of the hair issue, the researchers decided to try out the same technology on parthenium, the problem weed. It produces about 10,000 seeds per plant, which propagate fast. It causes dermatitis and allergies. Using a method similar to that of decomposing hair, the researchers found that parthenium degraded completely in 40 days. A problem that arose during the process was to terminate the extremely high seed potential of parthenium.
“Vermitechnology could not decompose the seeds. We let the seeds germinate and kept the manure with the germinated seeds in a dark room for about 15 days. This wilted off the seedlings and terminated the seed sprout potential of the plants,” said Kohli. He claims that their experiments showed that parthenium vermicompost showed greater protein content and larger shoot length than normal vermicompost. Experts, however, say commercializing the process will be difficult because there will be toxic reactions while collecting the parthenium in bulk. Such issues can be taken care of by using masks and gloves, says Kohli.
No hair-raising experience this
ARCHITA BHATTA
GURU
Courtesy earthworms, hair, weed easily converted to manure
in 2003, the government ordered the closure of several hair processing
units, which made wigs, in Karnataka because of pollution. Burning of
hair resulted in toxic elements, which caused allergies. The problem
with human hair is it takes hundreds of years to decompose (see ‘In
distress’, Down To Earth, July 15, 2003). In 2004, researchers in
Punjab found a method to convert the seemingly indecomposable hair
into organic manure with the help of earthworms. The process is called
vermitechnology. Now, four years later, the researchers have received
a patent for the process in India.
“It was said that hair does not decompose. I was not convinced. I
tried out various methods and zeroed in on vermitechnology in 2004,”
said R K Kohli of the Centre for Environment at Punjab University.
Explains Kohli, who carried out the study with other researchers: hair
contains keratin, a fibrous structural protein that is hard and
insoluble in most substances. Keratin makes it difficult for hair to
decompose easily. He says that an enzyme in the gut of the earthworm
breaks down keratin. While working on right conditions for
vermitechnology, the researchers found that it worked best without
using any chemicals or diluting it.
The technology is a multi-layered process where decomposable matter
such as wheat husk, bamboo leaves and sawdust forms the base. A
mixture containing cow dung and hair is placed on the base. This is
topped with more cow dung. A dough is made out of this mixture and
kept in shade at temperatures varying from 21-31°C. Earthworms are
released into it and left for two months to produce the compost.
Though this is the first instance of documentation of this technology,
experts working on traditional knowledge in agriculture say farmers in
some parts of India do convert hair into organic manure. “Farmers in
India have tried this method successfully but their contributions have
yet not been documented,” said Pankaj Oudhia, convenor, International
Parthenium Research News Group, a group of researchers who discuss
ways and means to manage the weed parthenium.
Kohli has plans. “I have requested barbers to store hair. It could be
collected at intervals and used for the production of manure instead
of disposing it,” he said. Also, perhaps the hair processing units
could make use of this technology to avoid pollution.
Having taken care of the hair issue, the researchers decided to try
out the same technology on parthenium, the problem weed. It produces
about 10,000 seeds per plant, which propagate fast. It causes
dermatitis and allergies. Using a method similar to that of
decomposing hair, the researchers found that parthenium degraded
completely in 40 days. A problem that arose during the process was to
terminate the extremely high seed potential of parthenium.
“Vermitechnology could not decompose the seeds. We let the seeds
germinate and kept the manure with the germinated seeds in a dark room
for about 15 days. This wilted off the seedlings and terminated the
seed sprout potential of the plants,” said Kohli. He claims that their
experiments showed that parthenium vermicompost showed greater protein
content and larger shoot length than normal vermicompost. Experts,
however, say commercializing the process will be difficult because
there will be toxic reactions while collecting the parthenium in bulk.
Such issues can be taken care of by using masks and gloves, says Kohli.
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20080831&filename=sci&sec_id=\
12&sid=5
Toxic Parthenium grass threatens Ranchi city of Jharkhand State, India.
Dr. Nitish Priyadarshi
Cases of breathlessness and asthma due to pollution through different
sources - air, water and pollen "may rise alarmingly in the city of
Ranchi the capital of Jharkhand State of India. Threat comes from
rapid growth of Parthenium grass, better known as "Congress Grass".
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/72527
Media Release
CRC for Australian Weed Management
28 August 2008
HALF AUSTRALIA’S PLANTS NOW FROM OVERSEAS
The number of plant species now growing in Australia has more than
doubled since European settlement in the 1780s due to new plants
introduced from overseas, according to a new publication from
Australian weed scientists launched today.
And thousands of them are just ‘weeds in waiting’, say the researchers.
Launching the ’Introduced flora of Australia and its weed status’ at
the National Botanic Gardens in Canberra today, Tasmanian Senator
Christine Milne said the 28,000 species brought in from overseas in
merely 200 years was many more than the number of native species.
‘Scientists estimate that the original pre-European rate of plant
introductions was as little as 1-5 species per century, a rate which
the native flora was able to cope with’, Senator Milne said.
‘However, in the last 200 years the average rate of introduction
rocketed to 14,000 per century. In many places this has simply
overwhelmed the adaptive capacity of Australian ecosystems’, Senator
Milne said.
‘If we are to maintain our current level of biodiversity in Australia
and build resilience in ecosystems, then we must have a war on weeds’,
she said.
Compiled by Rod Randall of the WA Department of Agriculture and Food
and the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management
(Weeds CRC), the recently completed project set out to list all
introduced plant species now found in Australia as well as their weed
status here or overseas.
Mr Randall said that many weedy plants were introduced for
agriculture, especially for pasture, and later abandoned to go weedy
when they failed to perform.
‘However, most of our worst weeds come from parks and gardens’, Mr
Randall said. Examples include Paterson’s curse, blackberry, willows,
bridal creeper, gorse, lantana and soursob.
The ’Introduced flora of Australia and its weed status’ lists
precisely 2739 foreign species that have become weedy, and a further
5907 that are here, not yet weedy, but have a history of becoming
weeds overseas.
‘Australia has such a diversity of climates we can be sure than many
of these ‘weeds in waiting’ will eventually find their way to a site
that suits them " and then they will simply explode in numbers’, Mr
Randall says. ‘We are pretty adept at moving plants and seeds around,
on purpose or by accident, which gives weeds the chance they need to
spread and try their luck in new locations.’
Climate change is also working in their favour, he says, as changes in
local conditions stress existing plants, and open up opportunities for
tougher invaders.
‘Some of these ‘weeds in waiting’ may find that just staying put works
for them’, says Mr Randall, ‘especially if the local changes to
rainfall and temperature suit them. It could be that their time is
coming.’
Gardeners and plant retailers will be able to use the ’Introduced
flora of Australia and its weed status’ to see immediately whether a
plant is known to be weedy outside its native range, and can then
choose to avoid planting or selling it.
‘This is basic ‘weed risk’ information that people have lacked up till
now’, says Mr Randall.
‘If gardeners and sellers over the last 200 years had only known what
we know now about which plants can become highly invasive, we might
have avoided much of the degraded landscapes, lost biodiversity and $4
billion per year agricultural loss now caused by weeds’, he said.
Mr Randall points out that the document lists over 20,000 non-weedy
foreign plants for gardeners to choose from, in addition to the 11,000
native plants now cultivated. The total of over 30,000 species and
cultivars should be a big enough palette for us, he says, and obviate
the need to grow known weeds.
Users will need to know the correct scientific name of plants to
search the system, since common names are too unreliable and vary too
much, Mr Randall says.
Now available free from the Weeds CRC web site, the Flora can also be
searched online via the University of Queensland web site at
http://weeds.cbit.uq.edu.au
From Enviroweeds list :
Announcing the release of a new weed identification and information
product
- Environmental Weeds of Australia.
Developed by the CRC for Australian Weed Management and the Centre for
Biological Information Technology (CBIT) at The University of Queensland,
this comprehensive product includes:
* A Lucid3 key to over 1,000 environmental weeds of Australia
* Detailed descriptions of major weed species
* Links to website information
* A search engine
* A detailed cross linked glossary
* Thousands of images
Environmental Weeds of Australia is an invaluable resource for all those
involved with research, training and management of environmental weeds in
Australia, especially State and local weed control officers, Bushcare and
Landcare volunteers. This product also provides an extremely valuable
teaching resource for students (University, TAFE and Secondary schools).
Price: AUD$59.00 (excluding GST and postage)
For more information about Environmental Weeds of Australia and how to
purchase it, please visit: http://www.cbit.uq.edu.au/software/enviroweeds
Alternatively, contact CBIT at Enquiries@...
Tablelands council conducts weed survey
Posted Tue Aug 5, 2008 11:32am AEST
* Map: Mareeba 4880
Officers from the Tablelands Regional Council will soon fan out across
a large area west of Mareeba as part of a major weed survey.
Mayor Tom Gilmore says officers will be looking for parthenium and
rat's tail between Hurricane Station and O'Briens Creek.
He says the council wants to know if the weeds have reinfested areas
that have been previously cleared.
Councillor Gilmore says property owners in the area will be notified.
"They should have no concerns about musters being disrupted or things
of that nature because our staff will be talking with them, making
sure they're cooperative with anything that the land-holders are
doing, because we don't want to get involved in making a mess of what
they're doing on a day-to-day basis," he said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/05/2324461.htm
Financial recovery after floods to take 5-6yrs: central QLD graziers
Posted Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:00am AEST
Graziers in parts of central Queensland ravaged by floods six months
ago say it will take five or six years for them to recover financially.
Hundreds of cattle died and significant infrastructure losses occurred
when floods swept through the Belyando River region near Clermont and
Alpha in late January.
Rosie Robertson manages a bull depot in the area and says graziers are
still struggling to overcome problems associated with the floods.
"The biggest problem has been that the parthenium has just taken over
and there's not a lot of grass and people are trying to get food for
their cattle and of course there's the expense of transporting the
cattle and getting them home again," Ms Robertson said.
"The biggest thing that's happened now is that they just can't afford
to transport their cattle but they've got to to try and find somewhere
else for them to feed."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/22/2310612.htm
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